Sophomore Honors English Newsletter ~ Sept. 2018

The Hughes News

Sophomore Honors English Newsletter ~ Sept. 2018

ABOUT TEACHER-LADY

My name is Ms. Hughes, and I’m a technology-loving, high school English teacher whose mission is to reintroduce her students to the love of reading through authentic, real-world tasks. This is my 22nd year as a high school English teacher and 18th year at WMHS.

Now, before you try to do the math to figure out how old that makes me, I’m 25.

Or at least, my husband, Eric, says I don’t look a day over 25, and that, my friends, is why I’ve been married to that smart, smart man for 23 years. We have two children, Anna & William, and we purchased my childhood home 11 years ago and have been renovating it ever since. (#moreprojectsthanmoney)

I dabbled in higher education and management before becoming a high school teacher, and I feel Blessed to have stumbled onto something that I absolutely love. Yates had it right: “Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire.” And I’m grateful to those students and colleagues who have kept the fire in this lifelong learner ablaze!

Back-to-School Night

Thursday, Sep. 20th, 6:30-8:30pm

60 Farm Street

Wakefield, MA

OUR CLASS SYLLABUS

Click HERE to view the Syllabus for English this year. I shared this with your students during the first week of school.

I am entrusted with helping your student meet 44 (!) English Language Arts standards this year--standards that are grouped in the following strands:

Reading (i.e., literature & nonfiction);

Language (i.e., grammar, usage, & vocabulary);

Writing (i.e., Argument, Informative, & Narrative modes); &

Speaking & Listening (which includes digital media).

HERE are some of the ways your student will be meeting those standards.

STAY CONNECTED

As a connected educator, I used to manage private social media accounts and public ones. However, I quickly realized that if I'm teaching the students to be responsible with whatever they post online, I should allow them to see me doing the same.

In that vein, students are welcome to follow me on online. (I don't follow students back until after they graduate--and even then, I'm selective.)

Finally, you might want to bookmark and/or follow our class website as well for easy access to class information and to stay current with the content.

SOPHOMORE READING CHALLENGE

Did you know that the average college freshman is assigned 600 pages of reading per week? (It's 600 pages per class per week at the Ivies!) So, to help build stamina in your reader--while fostering lifelong reading, your student will select and enjoy one book each month this year. And I've made it easy by curating a (self-funded) classroom library that currently houses 2,400 titles!

Click HERE to see why your student needs to read for 20 minutes each day.

Ask your student what titles s/he plans on reading this year! Even better? Share some of your favorite titles with your reader! Full disclosure: You might get an eye-roll initially (unless that's just what happens in the Hughes Casa!), but chances are, your suggestion will most likely make the list. After you leave the room.

OUR CLASS SYLLABUS

Click HERE to view the Syllabus for English this year. I shared this with your students during the first week of school.

I am entrusted with helping your student meet 44 (!) English Language Arts standards this year--standards that are grouped in the following strands:

Reading (i.e., literature & nonfiction);

Language (i.e., grammar, usage, & vocabulary);

Writing (i.e., Argument, Informative, & Narrative modes); &

Speaking & Listening (which includes digital media).

HERE are some of the ways your student will be meeting those standards.

STAY CONNECTED

As a connected educator, I used to manage private social media accounts and public ones. However, I quickly realized that if I'm teaching the students to be responsible with whatever they post online, I should allow them to see me doing the same.

In that vein, students are welcome to follow me on online. (I don't follow students back until after they graduate--and even then, I'm selective.)

Finally, you might want to bookmark and/or follow our class website as well for easy access to class information and to stay current with the content.

SOPHOMORE READING CHALLENGE

Did you know that the average college freshman is assigned 600 pages of reading per week? (It's 600 pages per class per week at the Ivies!) So, to help build stamina in your reader--while fostering lifelong reading, your student will select and enjoy one book each month this year. And I've made it easy by curating a (self-funded) classroom library that currently houses 2,400 titles!

Click HERE to see why your student needs to read for 20 minutes each day.

Ask your student what titles s/he plans on reading this year! Even better? Share some of your favorite titles with your reader! Full disclosure: You might get an eye-roll initially (unless that's just what happens in the Hughes Casa!), but chances are, your suggestion will most likely make the list. After you leave the room.

THE ADOLESCENT BRAIN

I have two teenagers of my own, and while I love them to pieces, sometimes they're tough to like. However, according to science, it's not entirely their fault. Scientists used to believe that our brains were fully developed by adolescence. However, the latest research reveals that teenagers' brains aren't fully developed until 25! The Bad News? This means that their impulsiveness, hormonal turbulence, and lack of follow-through isn't entirely their fault. The Good News? Teens tend to show their teachers the best version of themselves. In the meantime, repeat after me: "We will survive."